The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1887-03-26
BOXING WITH A HORSE.
How an Oxford Graduate Tanned a Fiery
Animal with His Fists.

How an Oxford Graduate Tanned a Fiery
Animal with His Fists.
A very vicious and ill-tempered horse
was eating his head off in very luxuriant
loose box, because there was no one in the
establishment Of the gentleman to whom
he belonged who had the courage or
strength to enter his stable to saddle and
bride him, says Outing II groom APP
preached for any other purpose than to
give him his corn or hay he would speedily
drive him away by free use Of his boots
and teeth. One day at lunch the owner
was lamenting the uselessness of the
finest horse in his stud to q party of
friends, and wound up by saying that he
would gladly make present of the horse
to any one who could saddle and ride him
out of the yard.
Young graduate of Oxford, Hon. Sid
ney Lawford, expressed his willingness to
make the attempt and, though warned by
many blood curdling recital of what had
been the fate of the grooms and stable
boys that had made the like effort, he per-
sisted in his determination to try. After
lunch all adjourned to the stable exp ecta-
ton Of seeing the young fellow receive a
lesson for his temerity. He was known
to be an expert in every manly exercise,
especially boxing, and was in perfect
wind and training. Selecting a saddle and
bride from an adjacent rack, he APP
preached the stroug bars that opened into
the brutes STALL speaking kindly and
soothing to him. The horse turned and
eyed the stranger, and, catching sight of
the hated bit, became furious, lashing out
madly with his heels and stamping wildly
about the stall, making the straw of his
bedding fly in every direction.
Without word the graduate rested the
saddle and bride on the top rail; but the
steady, undaunted fire of the eye, the
firmly compressed lip the backward pose
of the shapely head, the swelling muscles
Of his 1.-the and active frame as he lightly
vaulted into the box. told plainly Of the
iron, indomitable will and pluck within.
Scarcely had he landed on his feet than
the now thoroughly Infatuated beast came
rushing headlong at him, with its satin
ears fattened closely against its lean
head, its eyes afame and bloodshot, its
mouth agape and displaying set of
cleaning teeth, which he CRASHED and
ground with fury. Sudden and savage
though the onslaught was the young
OXonian was prepared.
Throwing himself naturally and grace
fully into boxing attitude, he met the
maddened animal with blow on the
temple, just between the ear and eye,
swift, straight and memorable that
brought him to his knees, Rearing up
and squealing with pain and rage, the
brute rushed again upon his foe, who
stepped aside, but pale and determined
awaiting his coming. Again levin bolt
straight from the shoulder, few the
clinched fist and down dropped the horse
Slowly he staggered to his feet and
trembling in every limb, while great
patches of perspiration stained his TANKS
and sides, he covered in corner of the
stall, completely vanquished. The victor
soon rad the bit in his mouth and, leading
him out of the stall, cantered gayly on the
prize his bravery and knowledge ha6
won.